Hotel in Madrid & airport transfers

switch007

The metro in madrid is awesome! However, coming from the airport, if you have lot's of luggage it can be a bit of a hassle. You would have to change at Nuevos Ministerios and then Alonso Mart!nez (avoid the pale blue line, line 1. Seriously. Especially south of the centre). The changes can be a pain, all the up and down of the stairs. However, it is considerably cheaper, so it's up to you to weigh up the pros and cons.

MrSmartprice

I don't see what the problem is with Line 1. Our hotel was between Anton Martin and Atocha on that line. So we would walk to Atocha (downhill) on the way out, and get off at Anton Martin on the way back to the hotel (also downhill) which was perfect.

All lines that we used were very frequent and quick. There are a few places where you need to use stairs though. One station (can't remember which)has only one platform access, to get to the other side you have to walk all the way down one platform, up and over the line and back onto a dead-end platform. A bit strange!

Poppy9

To travel down to Salmanca we need to get to the bus station from our hotel as it's better and more frequent than going by train. Anyone know where the bus station is? Nearest metro stop is Grand Vie

teralin

Just a point about the metro, it starts at terminal 4, then continues on to Terminals 1,2 and 3 and than on into the city so you can take the metro from terminal four, you do not need to make your way to other terminals. Once at the metro station, you can buy a ticket for ten journeys for €7. however because you are commencing your journey from the airport, there will be a supplement of €1 per person on the ticket. So in your case, you would buy a ten journey ticket, click the button to allow you to use the ticket for three people, and then you will be asked to pay €10 euros in total (includes airport supplement). If you buy individual tickets from the airport, then a one journey ticket will cost you €2 each.

I have used the metro in Madrid regularly for the last twelve months and I find it very easy to negotiate particularly if you avoid rush hours. It all depends on how much luggage you are carrying. If you can manage to get it up and down escalators and a few stairs, then use the metro.

Poppy9

M!ndez Alvaro seems to be the train station I need as the autores bus looks like it goes from here (my Spanish is dreadful). I can't see it on the metro map though

I am near Grand Via or Sol stations. Am I looking left or right on the map!

switch007

MrSmartprice wrote: »

I don't see what the problem is with Line 1. Our hotel was between Anton Martin and Atocha on that line. So we would walk to Atocha (downhill) on the way out, and get off at Anton Martin on the way back to the hotel (also downhill) which was perfect.

All lines that we used were very frequent and quick. There are a few places where you need to use stairs though. One station (can't remember which)has only one platform access, to get to the other side you have to walk all the way down one platform, up and over the line and back onto a dead-end platform. A bit strange!

I lived in Madrid for 10 months. Line 1 is full of tourists and there are lots of muggings. It can also get very busy south of Sol so it's not very pleasant.

To get to Mendez Álvaro (for the southern bus station), take the grey (circular) line which you can pick up from most peripheral stations such as Principe Pio, Pacifico (One or 2 down from Atocha), Avenida de America etc. From Sol, take blue line (uggh!) to Pacifico, then make sure you look at the direction of the the train on the signs and its one stop to Mendez Alvaro, westwards.

The best website for Madrid travel is http://www.ctm-madrid.es/ . Click "English" at the top, then on the left "Recommended path between two points..." The site is a bit fiddly but you should be able to figure it out.

So in your case, you would buy a ten journey ticket, click the button to allow you to use the ticket for three people, and then you will be asked to pay €10 euros in total (includes airport supplement).

For three people? Wouldnt that buy 3 x 10 tickets? I don't recall such an option. If you want to use one ticket for 3 people just buy one ticket from the machine and share it.

Poppy9

Back from Madrid.

We took a taxi from airport to hotel (and return) as despite good intentions of travelling light we had 2 cases and one bag! IMO you need to travel light or have more than one strong man to carry the cases to use the metro if you need to change lines.

We did use the metro with the 10 journey ticket for 3 of us no problem.

Our hotel in Madrid was okay but not as good as the 4* hotel we stayed in Salamanca. The location was superb though.

We found Madrid very expensive to eat out, especially with the current exchange rate. Found most Spaniards quite rude in Madrid except for the hotel staff. They were brill with DD who tried to use Spanish all the time but if she didn't know a word they would tell her. Thankfully DD been doing food this term in her spanish lessons so we didn't go hungry!

The bus from Madrid to Salamanca was great with it's comfy leather seats though it was very busy considering they have an hourly service.

Weather not so good and we had rain and snow one day while travelling down to Salamanca.

I hated seeing the old ladies and the disabled begging in the streets of Madrid. I passed one old lady double in the morning and she was still at the same place late afternoon. I just couldn't walk by these people without giving.